CULTURAL Baroque Churches of the Philippines
Year of Inscription: 1993

These four churches, the first of which was built by the Spanish in the late 16th century, are located in Manila, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and Miag-ao, Iloilo. Their unique architectural style is a reinterpretation of European Baroque by Chinese and Philippine craftsmen.

The Historic Town of Vigan
Year of Inscription: 1999

According to UNESCO, “It is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of of the cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those of Europe to create a unique culture townscape without parallel anywhere in the East and Southeast Asia.”

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
Year of Inscription: 1995

 

While officially referred to in the World Heritage List as the “Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras,” the five (5) inscribed terrace clusters are all found in the four municipalities of Ifugao province: Kiangan (in Nagacadan), Hungduan, Mayoyao, and Banaue (in Bangaan and Batad).

Locals call them “payyó” (pronounced payew). Built entirely by hand, the terraces were believed to be constructed by the Ifugao some *2,000 years ago.

*Though based on the dissertation (done in 2009 by Mr. Stephen Acabado while a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii) titled “A Bayesian approach to dating agricultural terraces: A Case from the Philippines,” and obtaining charcoal samples from the Bocos terrace system in the Municipality of Banaue, for radiocarbon dating, the rice terraces would have only been built from 1500 to 1600 AD, placing its age between 400 to 500 years old.

NATURAL

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary
Year of Inscription: 2014

Forming a mountain ridge running north-south along the Pujada Peninsula in the south-eastern part of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor, the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has an elevation range of 75–1,637 m above sea level and provides critical habitat for a range of plant and animal species. The property showcases terrestrial and aquatic habitats at different elevations, and includes threatened and endemic flora and fauna species, eight of which are found only at Mount Hamiguitan. These include critically endangered trees, plants, and the iconic Philippine eagle and Philippine cockatoo. (UNESCO)

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
Year of Inscription: 1999

The National Park beckons with its amazing limestone karst landscape and is located in the west coast of Palawan. The park boasts of a healthy ecosystem and protects some of the most significant forests in Asia. A highlight of each visit is a ride through its 8 kilometer long underground river. The river runs through a dome of stalactites complemented by stalagmites running the entire lenght of the cave.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park
Year of Inscription: 1993

The Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park covers an area of some 33,000 hectares and is located in the middle of the central Sulu Sea or approximately 98 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Princesa City in central Palawan. The park is home to a diverse population of marine life with more than 300 coral species and 400 species of fish and is recognized by the international communtiy for having the highest biodiversity level in the world.

Check out the list in the UNESCO website.